Protokult
No Beer in Heaven
14 Track Album
To be released 8th August 2014
BROTAL!! Out soon!
Written for Demented Magazine
Protokult – Toronto, Canada
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Protokult
Listen here:
http://protokultmetal.bandcamp.com/
Recorded at Spectre Sound Studios
Genre: Folk metal, Black metal,
Thrash, Ambient
Biography:
“Although PROTOKULT is a
Canadian-based group, the members come from various backgrounds (Polish, Irish,
Russian, Czech) and the result is a marvellous mix of Canadian and
international forces. The goal is to unite these cultures into one sound,
balancing tradition and folklore with heavy, thrash and black metal for
head-bangers everywhere.
Go on get me a beer!
With a beauty and the beast-like contrast between Ekaterina’s
haunting vocals and the band’s metal onslaught, whether they are reinventing
the wheel or carrying down the torch high, PROTOKULT
has an exhilarating, fresh sound for the 21st century.
From the studio to the stage, PROTOKULT
puts on a live show that can be best described as engaging, energetic and, in
essence, a live ritual — ‘A must-see act’, according to the Emergenza festival.”
Protokult
Quite confusing but in a cool way, with the mention of haunting
vocals from Ekaterina I was expecting an all-female vocal naturally but it’s a
shared vocal between Martin and Ekaterina and it’s superb! Soaked in folk
flavour but with a harsher elements this really works! Along the lines of
Alestorm and Finntroll which we all know and love, and the band name reminds me
of more industrial cyber leaning so yes confusing but still easily enjoyable.
Get me a Beer
Already on its second play the track ‘Get me a Beer’ engages and
seduces with its melodic feel and rough round the edges vocal from Martin and
powerful vocal by Ekaterina with a few Hoi Hoi Hoi’s thrown in. Its anthemic
hue is catchy and upbeat and I defy anyone not wanting to grab a beer and rock
the fuck out to this!
Get me a Beer! Lyrics
We come from afar in search of beer
We’re only here to drink.
If you’re down with the kult then gather around,
And lift another mug.
They tell you how to live,
Yet never see the sun.
And the seas have not quite risen
So raise another round!
GET ME A BEER
DARK, ALE OR CLEAR
GET ME A BEER
DON’T BE AN - Hoi, hoi, hoi!
So you met a lass with a nice, firm ass-
A pity if she’s boring.
The second she comes with a round in hand
Up it goes again!
We welcome you to join us-
You’re drinking with the best!
Gather around everybody at once
And raise another round!
So you came to see the show,
But Protokult are drunks!
If you offer a round and pass it around,
Then they’ll be your friends
Forgive me if I drink,
This world can bring you down.
One more chance to get in her pants
Raise another round!
Drink beer!
Heaven cast me out
Uplifting with a grand all out melodic bait to its mighty structure,
although I think the wailing is a bit unnecessary at the beginning, but as the
track grows it provides a kind of spellbinding magic and Martin’s vocal turns
deeper and gruffer which makes this track for me.
My Father’s Word
Ekaterina has a chance to shine on this track that hosts a very
aboriginal feel along with some strong and rigorous rhythms to back it up.
Martin then takes over mid-way and Ekaterina’s impressive haunting lilt then
overtakes so quite an unusual mix.
Flight of the Winged Hussar
Dramatically flirtatious with a fast rampaging rhythmic connotation
and again a mixed vocal. The guitars also run away with themselves as the solo
is engaging whilst the woodwind introduction is sheer beauty.
Sole Intention
This track has an ambient beginning and some sparse uncomplicated
stringed arrangement follows. The sound then takes on a more rambunctious
flavour with a ripple of keyboard notes.
Edge of Time
This runs a tirade of metal drama awash with thickening rhythm and
deep grooves. The operatic haunting voice of Ekaterina and the dulcet tones of
Martin blend together at what is a quite a strange composition.
Sanctuaries
Dream-like strings begin with a soft but still prominent bass and
caressing lilt until the most stupendous riff rips through the whole track but
it’s not for long as once again it is shrouded in its own mysterious magic.
Desert Scourge
This is quite dark and eerie, well to begin with anyway, as Protokult love to throw one off
balance. That gruff impressive guttural vocal commands the attention whilst not
far behind is Ekaterina’s seductive lilt.
Gorale
Another ‘steeped in ambient’ and dark textured track, throws out a
myriad of unusual sounds with a beautiful woodwind accompaniment and soulful
strings.
Summer’s Ode
A very creative track that is awash with thick rhythms and crisp
beats. The guitars once again have their time to shine and produce a rich
palette of colour. The harmonies are superb on this.
Razbival Okovi Perun
Holds a very ‘eastern’ feel to it – so much so you can literally
feel your flesh turn into small Goosebumps – the track is only a short one but
it just whet’s the appetite enough to fully appreciate it.
Water of Life
Igniting a spark that soon catches fire with enticing woodwind and
strings and gives a good battering of drums creating a tenacious track.
------------------------------------------------------
“Each track holds something
innovative and a welcome surprise. It is not all out thrash, folk or black but
a condensed mixture of everything combined into an absorbing encounter of
melodic flirtation combining plenty of groove and unusual slants on ambient
structures!”
------------------------------------------------------
Brotokult – Hidden Track
Oh I am adoring this track for the simple reason it just explodes
into a frenzy of cyberesque beauty with jagged choppy keyboard rhythms that are
so catchy – this is so unexpected and very diverse – hard to think it is the
same band.
We Smoke the Ganja – Hidden Track
Again very different – oil drums at the ready and silly lyrics but
with an overall encompassing sound.
Summary
So what can I say here other than one of the most diverse bands I
have heard in a long time, as the Protokult
name would suggest cyber, and a complete surprise as at the end they do have a
slight cyber feel to one of their tracks ‘Brotokult’ At times they have that
Alestorm’ feel – just grab a beer and fuck it attitude. Then there’s the Jamaican feel – just gimme
the weed and chill man factor! The guttural growls are just immense – in just
give me more or I shall exterminate you kind of way, whilst the haunting lilt
from Ekaterina casts a shadowy hue over the tracks and then there is the music
which can be at times brutal and then dream like.
Protokult are the ‘Push me – Pull you’ of the metal world seemingly going in
one direction only to back track and take a different route, which makes
listening fun!
Making more than just a lingering impression Protokult go out and shock unveiling a masterful craft that is so
well put together and portrayed in an array of full on mixed emotions from ambience
to tongue in cheek!
Starting out like Alestorm and ends up becoming a diverse mass of
keyboard melodies and cyber sonic potency – intriguingly mesmerising.
Each track holds something innovative and a welcome surprise. It is
not all out thrash, folk or black but a condensed mixture of everything
combined into an absorbing encounter of melodic flirtation combining plenty of
groove and unusual slants on ambient structures.
Definitely check them out on the link above. It’s all you could ask
for and more!
9/10
Track List:
Get me a beer
Heaven cast me out
My Father’s Word
Flight of the Winged Hussar
Sole Intention
Edge of Time
Sanctuaries
Desert Scourge
Gorale
Summer’s Ode
Razbival Okovi Perun
Water of Life
Brotokult – Hidden Track
We Smoke the Ganja – Hidden Track
Members:
Martin D – Vocals/Guitars
Misha M - Drums
Ekaterina – Vocals/Woodwind
Dawid Slowiak - Bass
Vodnik - Guitars
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